MARCH 11, 2016

NR # 4136B

Retirement benefits for elected barangay officials sought

A proposed law seeking the grant of retirement benefits to elected barangay officials
for their years of service as public officers is under consideration by the House Committee
on Local Government.
Pampanga Rep. Joseller Yeng M. Guiao is author of HB 4358 entitled An Act
granting retirement benefits to all elective Barangay officials and appropriating funds
therefor.
My proposal is meant to give due recognition to barangay officials who often give
the best years of their lives to public service, Rep. Guiao stressed.
The author is proposing that Barangay Chairmen should get Fifteen Thousand Pesos
(P15,000.00) for every year of service while Barangay Councilors should receive Ten
Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) for every year of service as retirement benefits.
The barangay, as the basic political entity, serves as the front-line unit in the
delivery of government services especially to the most remote areas of the country, he
said.
Likewise, the barangay serves as the primary and implementing unit of
government programs and projects. These and other important functions of the barangay,
are executed and implemented by barangay officials, who, as grassroots leaders render
their services and risk their lives in carrying out their responsibilities, Rep. Guiao
explained.
On the matter of administration of the proposed retirement system, HB 4358
provides that within (60) sixty day from approval of this Act, the Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS) shall establish and administer an appropriate system under
which barangay officials shall be paid their retirement benefits.
It also mandates that the GSIS shall undertake actuarial study to determine the
funding requirement for the operation and maintenance of the retirement system. The
amount so determined shall be initially charged to the appropriations of the Department of
the Interior and Local Government under the current General Appropriations Act.
Thereafter, he added, such sum as may be necessary for the continued operation and
maintenance of the retirement system shall be included in the annual budget of the
municipality or city to which the barangay belongs.
Furthermore, the initial appropriations provided by the DILG and the subsequent

annual budgets provided by the municipal and city governments for the operation and
maintenance of the retirement system, shall be released to the GSIS.
Payment of benefits shall be made not later than six (6) months after an officials
separation from service. Provided, That this provision shall not apply to Barangay
Officials with pending administrative or criminal cases, the bill also provides.
Rep. Guiao also clarified that nothing in this Act shall be construed as to diminish,
in any way, any existing benefits provided by laws, rules and regulations, local ordinances
or any other issuances to barangay officials. (30) dpt